Radio Makers' Scheme Brings More Work for Hauliers
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BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
ADISTRIBUTION scheme whereby manufacturers of television and
radio sets may obtain a better delivery service to retailers, particularly in the more sparsely populated. areas. of the country, and • selected carriers may secure a greater proportion of the radio industry' traffic, has been initiated by the British Radio Equipment Manufacturers' Association.
• About awe years ago the Association. Whieh. has 40 ',Mernbers; gave some thought to the 'efficiericY arid 'cost of distribution in parts of the eountrY in which dem' and was such that individual manufacturers were not able to send consignments large enough to prOMote econoMy. in the running of C-licence vehicles, and where the.. delivery of small lots by general carriers tended to be expensive.
Since January the country has been divided into 13 zones, and selected carriers who have expressed willingness to co-operate have been dealing with the goods of all members. The carriers have a larger and steadier volume of traffic to handle, and it is hoped that this will promote greater efficiency. •
The carriers were chosen after the Road Haulage Association had been approached. Rates remain a matter for private negotiation between members and carriers, and it is not intended to
draw up an overall rates schedule to which carriers would have to adhere;
The industry's output rtma'at the rate of about 1m: television and lm. radio, sets a year, and previously threequarters of these amounts was carried under C or contract-A licences. The remainder was handled alniost entirely. by professional • Carriers, . with the exception 'of. a few loads -scot by rail,: mainly on passenger• trains for the sake
of urgency. • Mr. A. J. Wilkinson, assistaut secretary of B.R.E.M.A., . said that reports on the working of the scheme were at present being studied by the Association to see how it could, be improved. He thought that in the more remote . areas, professional carriers. might eventually handle the distribution of all goods if it could be established that this method was more satisfactory than that of using ancillary transport.